SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock
Sedona AZ (June 4, 2014) – June in Sedona represents the countdown to the beginning of 2014-15 fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014.
Hot topics such as finalizing the Chamber of Commerce destination marketing campaign, refinancing of the City’s existing 2004 Excise Tax Revenue Refunding Obligations, new monthly wastewater rates and wastewater capacity fees, and approval of the Tentative City Budget for the upcoming fiscal year have been agenda items at recent Regular and Special City Council Meetings.
At the Regular Council Meeting held May 13, Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff presented an overhead review explaining their proposal for marketing Sedona to outside cities, states, and countries. Apparently lacking in their own expertise, the Chamber hired a full service Phoenix marketing firm, Owens Harkey & Associates, to assist with the proposal. Ms. Wesselhoff during the discussion referred to future plans for hiring a professional PR firm for marketing product development in addition to referencing a Mitch Nichols of Nichols Tourism Group with whom the Chamber is also presently under contract to work through this process.
Of course, since Requests for Proposals were not offered for this Destination Marketing service there’s no way of ascertaining if a legitimate, qualified firm would have required additional consulting services had they been given the opportunity to bid on the destination marketing contract.
Councilman Mark DiNunzio recommended a full audit from an outside CPA firm, citing that other city contracts such as with the library require this. It was ultimately decided that staff would come back prior to the end of the month with recommendations as to procedure and duration of time for when such a line item audit should or will be conducted, if at all.
Councilman Mike Ward, although sympathetic with the Chamber’s efforts, expressed at length the need to ascertain “maintaining capacity,” meaning exactly how many day-trippers versus destination visitors does Sedona have and what will be the results of target marketing.
Ward emphasized $1,230,000 as being a large percentage of the overall budget and further expressed concerns about additional small grants that have been claimed by the Chamber for events such as the Marathon.
Sedona City Council
Expressing further apprehension, Ward cited City money spent for the visitor’s center should be represented as the “Sedona Visitor Center” and not the Chamber of Commerce as the present sign indicates. He further questioned if businesses who aren’t members of the Chamber of Commerce are receiving equitable referrals.
Ward is troubled that additionally (and ongoing) $78,000 goes to Main Street; $100,000 annually to “manage” uptown parking; $45,000 for private property parking leases; $50,000 to an employee “to keep uptown clean;” $250,000 is being held aside for parking meters; $125,000 has been designated to clarify how to get from the City owned parking lot to Main Street; $866,000 for one time highway maintenance on that portion of SR 89A the City took back from ADOT because of insistence by uptown businesses; and, last but not least, $800,000 is being considered for better access from the City parking lot via the Wayside Chapel to include requirements for making such improvements ADA compliant. His concern is the additional amount of money in excess of two million dollars being spent uptown versus amenities for businesses in West Sedona which is a vital part of Sedona’s commercial ability to generate sales taxes.
The City Council was in agreement for the need to bring the final documents relating to “Product Development” for contract approval prior to November when a new Mayor and three new City Council Members will be seated.
The Destination Marketing Contract with the Chamber of Commerce, if approved, will be awarded for fiscal 2014-15 and renewable for the following two years with terms for cancellation included in the agreement.
At the council meeting on May 27, Mark Reader, Managing Director of Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Inc. discussed the final terms secured for the refinancing of City’s existing 2004 Excise Tax Revenue Refunding Obligations. Requests for Proposals to twelve financial institutions produced six bids. The winning bid was at 0.66% from Wells Fargo. This was substantially lower than the 1.66% Mr. Reader suggested back in March. It will reduce the debt service by approximately $550,000. This transaction is complete. Future considerations will be forthcoming at appropriate times.
Sedona wastewater treatment pond
An Ordinance adopting new monthly wastewater rates and wastewater capacity fees to become effective July 1st was approved 6/1 by City Council. (Councilman John Martinez was the opposing vote.) Also approved was a reduction in the percentage of sales tax from 35% to 30% to subsidize the wastewater treatment plant. (A decision contrary to commitments made at the time of Sedona incorporation.)
At this same meeting (5/27), a motion was made to approve the Tentative City Budget for fiscal year 2014-15 thereby setting a cap at $38,385,154. It passed 6/1, with Councilman John Martinez voting “no.”
A bit about this budget: At the top of the list of Summary of General Fund Changes is “Increased contribution to Chamber of Commerce: $623,500.” Community Focus Areas (Cultural Park & Soldier Pass) have been earmarked for $56,500. Included under the “General Amount of $14,829,308:” Special Revenue Grants, $1,815,140; Capital Funds, $7,753,861; Wastewater Enterprise, $13,747,132.
Always of particular interest during budget planning sessions are Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Fiscal year 2014-15 at $12.3 million represents an increase from the current $10 million amount.
Following is a breakdown of requests from City Departments:
PARKS & RECREATION: Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park: $900,000; Park land acquisition for creek front property: $1,650,000; Park/trail easement acquisition: $50,000; Shade structures and playgrounds: $35,000; Bike skills park; $141,000.
(Total: $2,776,000)
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES: Art in the roundabout: $75,000
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Brewer Road property design for future development: $150,000
Note: City staff will recommend source of this funding to come from the Community Facilities District (in-lieu of bed tax fees) generated by the Fairfield and Summit timeshare complexes, earmarked use to be directly beneficial to residents.
Sedona Police Department is located on Roadrunner Drive in west Sedona
POLICE DEPARTMENT (although Police Chief Ray Cota has gone public with a request for either a new station or major renovations to the old one): Shooting range improvements: $388,750; Police facility renovations: $151,000; Radio communication enhancement to correct current “dead spots” throughout the city; $430,000 (Total: $969,750)
PUBLIC WORKS: Total for specific projects: $2,027,220
DRAINAGE: Total for specific projects: $2,051,891
WASTEWATER: Effluent Management: $2,202,389; Future Effluent Management: $2,084,034. (Total: $4,286,423)
Wish List Total: $12,336,284
Unfortunately, according to Ms. Karen Daines (Assistant City Manager), “Projects without dedicated revenue streams, including most sidewalk, drainage, and public safety projects, must all compete for a finite amount of General Fund resources” and Development Impact Fees and money from this Community Facilities District must specifically benefit residents. Is there really justification to use it for purchasing vacant land for parks and, most recently, staff recommendation to use Fairfield/Summit “in-lieu of bed tax” CFD funds for future development of the Brewer Road property? Does this interpretation mean that sidewalks, drainage, and public safety projects don’t benefit residents and, yes, even tourists?
A flurry of decisions will be made between now and July 1, 2014, many of which will impact not only Sedona in general but this year’s newly elected as well as those seated in the future.
The clock is ticking.
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nice work eddie
POLICE DEPARTMENT (although Police Chief Ray Cota has gone public with a request for either a new station or major renovations to the old one): Shooting range improvements: $388,750; Police facility renovations: $151,000; Radio communication enhancement to correct current “dead spots” throughout the city; $430,000 (Total: $969,750)
Is the 151,000 just a ‘bandaid’?
How are we fixing the dead spots? Don’t be hiding stealth cell towers around town like the VOC. A lot of times cell carriers themselves actually cause the dead spots by hoarding your space. Check with them first. They blah blah about 911 but don’t actually walk the talk. Surprising?
Come on down to Beaverhead Flat road and share the shooting range there. Free of charge.
Amazing article Eddie. Thank you.
“Projects without dedicated revenue streams, including most sidewalk, drainage, and public safety projects, must all compete for a finite amount of General Fund resources” Karen Daines, Assistant City manager
So, to clarify, the City Council makes sure they designate funds for the Chamber of Commerce, Sedona Visitors Center, Sedona Main Street, Uptown Parking, Sedona Film Festival and others to have dedicated revenue streams.
Sidewalks, drainage and public safety can compete for whatever crumbs are leftover. Is that why we have a city?
A $38,000,000 That’s 38 MILLION Dollar budget, and sidewalks, drainage and public safety must all compete for crumbs. That should make you mad.
Of course, a $200,000 City manager Salary and Benefits, $100,000 Assistant City manager salary and Benefits, $160,000 employee appreciation pay and one month Vacation /leave for all city employees their first year of employment, those are most definitely designated in the budget.
Vote no on Alternative Revenue limitation/Home rule.
NO means the Sedona city spending must be less than the cap the State of Arizona say s a city our size should spend. The city currently spends about 30% more than the MAXIMUM because we have “Home Rule”.
Please also consider Sedona Disincorporation or google Sedona Disincorporation.
Incredible article. Thank you Ms. Maddock for writing this. Impressed with Councilor Ward for speaking up. Clearly the clock is ticking. You just given us more reasons to vote No on Home Rule. Thank you!
Mike Ward is absolutely correct. The “visitor’s center” should be identified as City of Sedona Visitor Center and NOT the Chamber of Commerce. It’s under contract for that reason (supposedly.)The same goes for the million $$ plus for destination marketing. Advertising the Chamber should not be a consideration in the scheme of things and yet it takes center stage. Their ongoing claims to take credit for the existence of Sedona and every single day tripper or visitors of longer stays and every penny they spend shopping in Sedona. This is simply not true. This current policy is beneficial to a select group. Local businesses and residents deserve better but we will not get it unless the newly elected mayor and council members get serious, get RFP’s for the marketing contract, and return the Chamber of Commerce to performing what it was originally organized to do . . . stand on its own feet, put back into the community instead of sucking it financially dry, and regain merit and respect of the businesses and citizens of Sedona.
black and white numbers can’t be denied
“A Marriott’s a-coming”
City of Sedona Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
Thursday May 29, 2014
1. Verification of Notice
2. Call to Order & Roll Call
3. The Commission and Staff will then carpool to the site of the proposed Sedona Marriott Courtyard project at 4105 W State Route 89A.
4. Discussion on a site inspection of 4105 W State Route 89A (southeast corner of W State Route 89A and Upper Red Rock Loop Road) regarding a request for Conceptual Zone Change and Conceptual Development Review for a proposed hotel development. The subject property is currently zoned C-1 (General Commercial), is approximately 8.16 acres, and is further identified as Assessor’s Parcel Number 408-11-430B. Project Number PZ14-
00005; Applicant: Sedona Hospitality Group, LLC
5. Adjournment and return by carpool to City Hall.
Great article Eddie. Good reporting.
I’m a city voter and taxpayer and involved in local organizations. Here’s what I think and know.
Marriott’s a done deal. This is a pro forma event. Hope this Marriott property is better than other Courtyards that Marriott offers – they are at best a mid range property not an upper end. Too bad. We could have used a really nice high end chain or top notch independent but none of the high-enders think the revenue stream is here.
Anybody want to ask Chamber why its numbers aren’t holding up for sales pitches?
Don’t forget this is a franchiser so expect less quality than if it was corporate owned. City Council had best make sure the signage, lighting and access/egress are top end. Don’t tell us you can’t get anything you ask for – it’s a franchiser, not corporate. The City holds ALL the cards.
Wait a doggone minute. Isnt this by a school? No way that hotels & motels & sleeping establishments be that close to schools. It’s illegal in most places to put convenience stores & liquor stores by them. Even domestic violence & drug treatment shelters can’t go up near schools for safety reasons.
@ tock sedona hospitality group; who’re you? do you have a background of successful ownership or are you another sedona group with money and no business acumen?
Response to Mike, Sedona
No, I am NOT involved in project. Just furnished the P & Z agenda item from the May 29th meeting to inform readers of what’s going on here. I know I didn’t until someone e-mailed me about this outlandish proposal.
To make it perfectly clear, “Tick Tock” says the Clock does NOT approve!
http://starpas.azcc.gov/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/main.p
Look up no such group with AZ corporation commission or trade name.
correct franchise Not CORPORATE owned just like the Hilton they pay to use the name
Don’t lose focus on Eddie’s article please read it again. Very powerful article! Full of truth and numbers. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
Speak up and vote NO on home rule. Stop the insane spending. You have one chance to stop it by voting no. Vote No! Alternative Expenditure Limitation August 26th
Once again Thank You Eddie
You can’t argue with facts. Maybe the citizens will vote no on Home Rule. Remove the revenue and stop the abuse.
Excuse me, but how can the Chamber get away with taking money from the city and hiring a subcontractor????? Was that intention given by the Chamber when it asked for more money? Next year, the City needs to let an RFP for marketing and let the Chamber take care of itself.
Speaking of the Marriot coming, a very trusted little birdie that likes to sit outside of P&Z meetings told Me about two months ago that there are Four large Hotels lined up to build here in Sedona. No names were mentioned. And the reason they are not all in the works right now is because Our City staff doesn’t have the man power to handle them all at once.
With the added 1% bed tax, I bet the Chamber is popping champaign corks all over the place.
Watch for one coming near You.
@Eddie Maddock
You are the last great spokesman/spokeswoman left in Sedona for fiscal sanity, Nevertheless, it does seem that Councilor Mike Ward hears you. Between the two of you, it’s becoming increasingly clear that opposition to Home Rule is the only way that fiscal constraint will ever be imposed on a Staff and never-ending flow of liberal spending Council candidates who can’t understand that every single national and state economic metric has turned decidedly down!
What? No “dedicated revenue streams” for sidewalks, drainage, and public safety projects and yet unlimited spending prevails for the businesses uptown but not in West Sedona? Not to mention the “dedicated” funding for so-called non-profits without benefit of accountability.
Suggestion of “big box” stores in Sedona sends the hair on our leaders’ heads straight up in fright. And yet “they” think nothing of considering “big box” chain-like hotels and resorts, many of which will turn into timeshares even if they do get approval and that will cut off collection of bed taxes? Ok, forgot. Now there’s the convenient source of “Community Facilities Districts.” OMG, what a clever way to fund “improvements” to Brewer Road property. Excuse me but wasn’t that the main reason Mike Ward and John Martinez voted “against” buying that property? They could foresee no means to fund improvements? And now! VOILA! CFD funds pop up. Lordy, Lordy, folks, we have just witnessed a miracle!
What’s wrong with this scenario? Oops, forgot. Chamber of Commerce wouldn’t benefit from all that increased bed tax for their own free advertising from run-of-the-mill “big box” stores.
Liked this article on Facebook.
March 11, 2014: Results of ballot measure to approve revised Community Plan:
Registered voters in Sedona: Appx. 6495
Voter responses: 2422 (37%)
Yes for CP: 1499 (61.89%)
No for CP: 923 (38.11%
Translated: The revised CP was approved by a mere 576 of the 2422 who actually troubled themselves enough to care.
Question: Where were the other 4073 registered voters?
Moral of story: Sedona is presently being controlled by a mere 576 of the registered voters. Therein lies the reason the City Council continues to honor the will of that 576 who are calling the shots.
The agenda is clear. Moving ahead with the changes in the Community Plan has become top priority. Funding for two of the “focus areas” has been designated. ($56,500 for Cultural Park & Soldiers Pass properties).
Park land acquisition for creek front property ($1,650,000) And, of course, there’s the mysterious source of $150,000 funding (CFD) for improvements to the overpriced Brewer Road property which will set a precedent for additional funding for improvements to future proposed parks.
After “New Year’s Day” on July 1st watch out. All will have been granted the green light and this seated council will have until mid-November (at which time the new mayor and three new council members will be seated) to put the wheels in motion to lock in the above (plus more), and continue to sate the palates of the Chamber of Commerce and the 576 voices who unfortunately are legitimately setting the scene for the future of Sedona. Based on reality, is there any doubt what the outcome will be on the ballot issue of Home Rule if the voting results mirror that of the election held in March?
Maybe, just maybe, when the Citizen Outreach Committee (or whatever they are calling themselves) deciding on what properties will be rezoned for group housing the 4073 blase non-voters will wake up scratching their heads and asking “Wha’ hoppen?” Well, the bus will have already hit the road folks. WAKE UP!
About competing “for a finite amount of General Fund resources” by capital projects without dedicated revenue streams:
Page 1-8 of the Proposed FY 2014-15 Budget states “In order to continue to address [non-WW] capital infrastructure improvements and pursue new capital outlay projects beyond 2017, other funding sources and/or a debt financing strategy must be pursued.” So great that roughly 4 years ago the City’s 1998 Ordinance dedicating 1/2 percent of all sales taxes toward non-sewer capital improvement funding was repealed by an earlier City Council.
Incidentally, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue, Sedona’s per capita debt of $5,098.68 is the 7th highest of Arizona’s 91 cities.
Sedona City Council Regular Meeting, City Hall Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 10, 4:30 PM (No “Pre-Council Meeting” needed for this one) View Live Stream or Cable Channel 4
AB 1803 Presentation/discussion/possible action regarding the approval of a contractual agreement between the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau and the City of Sedona for tourism promotion services for FY2015 – FY2017.
TAKE NOTICE: Contract to be approved through FY2017.
“No dedicated revenue streams for sidewalks, drainage, and public projects?” And this City Council will approve millions for the Chamber of Commerce to advertise the ‘CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’ for the next three years?
Reference is made to the latest coupon booklet, Red Rock Rewards, double page ad “Things to Do” (in Sedona.) Why doesn’t the City of Sedona Logo appear in the upper right hand corner instead of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce? It’s the City paying for the ad isn’t it?
Or will the Chamber say the ad comes from “Chamber member funding.” Even more reason for a legitimate, authorized audit and Requests for Proposals.
Enjoyed article & comments.
Since it seems Mike Ward is the only member on this city council with integrity it will be interesting to find out if he votes his conscience or is influenced by peer pressure or his sympathetic feelings for the chamber of commerce. It’s bad enough that staff and this council continues to promote this scam of using city revenue to blatantly promote the chamber of commerce, let alone lock this in for three years just prior to an election of a new mayor and council members. How chintzy and low life can Sedona sink with this in-your-face, we’ll do it because we can, sort of attitude?
The City says that next fiscal year will be the first wastewater rate increase in 2 years because the Council held rates at 2012-2013 levels in this fiscal year. Huh? The City approved a Current Year (FY 2013-14) “Cost of Service Adjustment” to this year’s existing rates.
For most billing classifications, there will be more than a 4% rate increase. As a result of the Current Year “Cost of Service Adjustment,” 17 Businesses/Schools’ bills will go up an additional 23%, while Residential bills (low-flow excepted) will go up an additional 10%. Next fiscal year when the whole shebang gets implemented residents, for example, will see their $47.34 monthly rate rise to $54.33, a 14.8% increase.
As Eddie informed us, there will be a reduction in the sales tax allocation to the WW plant from 35% to 30% also, “(A decision contrary to commitments made at the time of Sedona incorporation)”. In my opinion, shifting more of the wastewater burden onto hard-pressed ratepayers frees up extra funds to facilitate City overspending.
Yesterday I called the Channel 5 news desk to get them to do a story on Home Rule and why this vote is so important to the citizens of Sedona. I also told them how since the implementation of the Home Rule the city has channeled the tax payers money to special interests, namely the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
I was asked if there are any town hall meetings scheduled on this matter. I sais no, but go to Sedona Eye and read the comments on this subject. I was also told that this story would be submitted to the reporter.
I encourage everyone to give Channel 5 a call and see if some light can be shed on this travesty of justice.
NO Home Rule
Disappointed once again by the current City Council, with the exception of Councilor Ward. Thank you Councilor Ward.
Rationalizing “Gifting” a regional Chamber over a million dollars is repulsive. I could give you over a million reasons why this is wrong. Spending taxes and giving them to special interest groups – friends is simply wrong. Spending taxpayers money without accountability when it does NOT help the citizens, tourists, and Sedona City businesses is a disgrace and extremely abusive. A “ROI” Return on Investment is simple math and should be required.
Councilor Ward is correct, paying for the Chamber visitor center is wrong. Paying to promote a membership based organization “chamber” that is not 100% exclusive in City Businesses has created an unlevel playing field. This hinders the businesses that have collected those taxes. They send the visitors to their members “outside the city limits” It also hinders the visitors and chases them outside the city. Bullying or strong arming the “city Businesses ” to join the “chamber” is controlling and manipulating, disgracing Sedona citizens and businesses.
We hear the businesses need to “Pay to Play” in the Chambers Visitor Center . Isn’t it the taxes they generated funding the City and the Chamber’s Visitor Center?
Here are a few other ways the Sedona City businesses “Pay to Play”.
-They collect your “Sales Tax & “Bed Tax” They are your main source of income.
-They pay “Sales Tax” on commercial rental. The space they rent gets charged 3% city sales tax every month.
-Higher sewer fees Hotels and Restaurants
-Licenses, permits, fees get paid to the city
– They pay for their own marketing. They target their customer. They do NOT want a government telling them how to market the businesses. They would rather the City spend those tax dollars on Sedona infrastructure.
So the Sedona City Businesses PAY everyday to PLAY in Sedona. It’s time to be heard. PLEASE vote NO on “Home Rule” Alternative Expenditure Limitation. August 26 Contact your county and make sure you get a ballot.
Visitors have choices on where to go. Sedona has competition. They want to feel good. They’re on vacation. Bed Tax and Sales Tax on the room is chasing them to outlying areas that don’t charge it. Lodging and Weddings have to compete with this. Aren’t they paying 7.5 – 7.8% more to stay in Sedona City Limits? How is this enhancing their stay?
A quote from Maya Angelou ” I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” How is this treatment making the visitors, residents, and businesses feel? Second class, not wanted, overall not good.
Home rule equals no rules. Vote NO on August 26 make you citizens and visitors feel good.
Writing on Sedona eye is good, but a better thing is to tell everyone you know. Post flyers, signs. Consider Sedona Disincorporation to end this completely.
Every council promises to work for the citizens, then just ends up working for special interests.
We can stop this, we can take our town back.
VOTE ON ON ALTERNATIVE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION/HOME RULE
It’s time to ask every candidate for Council and Major just where they stand on automatic DMO money for the Chamber as opposed to competitive bidding! And, let’s ask them all about their stand on Home Rule as well.
Another IQ test question for the candidates would be: Do you have a “smart” meter?
Is anyone else wondering how far into the “new year” it will take before the city council will discuss ways (methods?) to generate the “missing” dedicated revenue stream for “sidewalks, drainage, and public safety projects?” Ha, three guesses and the first two don’t count but you can bet it won’t involve cutting funding to Chamber of Commerce or other “pet” non-essentials.
Is anyone else aware of short (30 to maybe 60 second) cable TV ads relating to Sedona events? Purely by accident I happened to catch a very short commercial which has led me to the following communication:
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 6/26/2014 8:01:01 AM
To: MWard@ci.sedona.AZ.us
Subject: SEDONA COMMERCIAL
Hi Mike:
The forwarded e-mail (below) was an attempt to get more information from Fox News (FNC) relating to a commercial about what I think was the following event:
http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/index.aspx?recordid=2174&page=473
The ad featured only a photo and a very amateur female voice-over about this event, concluding with “also visit Sedona’s Splash Park.”
My question: Who paid for this commercial? Are other similar commercials out there? Is it an example of Destination Marketing, a one-time event limited to accommodating 300 people for $2.00 entrance fee? Also, does Parks & Recreation obtain a certificate from Yavapai County Board of Health when serving food at these events? The one planned for the 4th of July offers pizza and ice cream.
Eddie
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 6/25/2014 8:34:30 PM
To: ldepartment@foxnews.com
Subject: SEDONA COMMERCIAL
How can I learn more about an event in Sedona Arizona. I caught a fleeting ad, something about the community swimming pool. Any chance to get a schedule or find out if the ad will run again? It was around 1:30 AM when I saw it.
Thank you.
There you go again Eddie…… Turning your EYE to the negative aspects of everything… Certificate from the board of health!? Also you should know how to find out about events that the Park and Rec puts on, check the website.. The way you scour for negative information I would of thought you knew that already.
Tina,
Are you attacking E. Maddock for providing what is public information? I care less if the health dept certificate is obtained but it’s a point about $$ being spent if I read her emails to Mike Ward correctly. If the EYE prints this how is that a negative? Thin skin usually belongs to the criticized. Could you or somebody at city parks explain why an event with max $$600 return justifies even $1 of ad money? Unless it’s about funneling money to other chamber members like FOX TV and RRN and I bet you the pizza delivery company – all that must never be exclusive because we’ve lots of pizza restaurants & news outlets in town? I thank E. Maddock for making me think about those issues with this exchange.
Jean M., City of Sedona (no full last name)
The questions, such as the one Eddie just raised, should be an article submission, not merely buried in the comments section. They are definitely worth being asked, and answered by “the powers that be”.
Tina J. Generally I would consider your comment among those worthy of “Silence” as the best response. However and with respect to your opinion, how fair is it if city events are allowed to serve food without following rules set for legitimate, revenue collecting city establishments?
Those businesses contributing to the local economy I do believe are required by law to obtain food-handling permits from the County Health Departments in which they are situated. And since when is it the duty for any city department to offer products or services in direct competition with licensed businesses?
As for the City web site, I am very familiar with it. However, it came as a complete surprise when quite by accident I caught a cable TV commercial in the middle of the night advertising a small-town local event which raised the questions in my e-mail to Councilman Ward. No, I did not “scour” and research the information. It just fell into my lap.
If the prevailing policy is to promote similar small-town events on cable TV, how will that attract “Destination Tourists,” especially when the Chamber of Commerce has gone on record via a lengthy article by Kegn Hall, Sedona Red Rock News 6/13/14 that their efforts will be focused on “the up-and-coming next generation of travelers, those ages 34 to 55, with household income of more than $100,000?” Will that class of acceptable visitors be attracted to stay in Sedona for several days in order to float in a pool with 300 others for $2.00 admittance and eat food of questionable health standards? Or will they be nothing more than traffic clogging day-trippers, which was a concern emphatically expressed by Councilman Ward at a recent council meeting.
Further, in my opinion, the quality of the ad was so amateur I was embarrassed for Sedona. If it’s a product of the recent contract for Destination Marketing with the Chamber of Commerce, then maybe it’s already time for the City Council to revisit their hasty decision to have bypassed a professional, full-service advertising agency which I cannot imagine would be so slovenly in their representation of beautiful Sedona.
Anyone serving food of any kind is required by the State – county to get a Food service license. In Yavapai or Cocoino. “Yavapai County Community Health Service License” It doesn’t matter who you are it is the State Law.
In either county it’s around $250-300 for the year, you get routine inspections and ALL your staff has to be permitted to handle food. There are strict rules and different kinds of permits. Every group even non-profits are required to get one if they serve food. Health & Safety.
Thank you, Mrs Maddock, you are correct in asking.
Besides that isn’t the City by serving food competing with their own “Sales Tax Generators” ? Or are they collecting sales tax for items sold?
The SEDONA COMMERCIAL Eddie writes about seeing on Fox News also ran mid-day on CNN. I agree the quality of the ad was lacking.
How is it there is money to spend on Parks & Rec TV commercials?
According to Page 1-8 of the new City budget, in three year’s time there won’t be enough reserves/savings left to fund non-WW capital projects. To quote: “In order to continue to address capital infrastructure improvements and pursue new capital outlay projects beyond 2017 [FY 2016-17], other funding sources and/or a debt financing strategy must be pursued.”
How did we get here?
Regular Sedona City Council Meeting, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, 4:30 PM
c. AB 1815 Discussion/possible action on the funding of various programs and services in the categories of community building, economic stimulation, and arts & culture through the City’s Small Grants Program for the 2015 fiscal year.
Does anyone have any doubts that the four leaving City Council in November will take advantage to lock in spending as much money as possible. They already proved it by the 3-year Chamber of Commerce contract. Now on a smaller scale they will designate “grant” funding for more of their pet projects. Yet another reason to vote NO on HOME RULE.
@ James Harrington and a bushel of others-
You keep saying vote no on Home Rule, let me get this straight; the city will have 9 million dollars coming into the coffers EACH YEAR but, if Home Rules fails those in city hall will be blocked from spending those same 9 million to fund such services as the library, community center, Sedona Recycles, meals on wheels, senior center and (maybe) the Humane Society just to name a few. You really expect normal people to agree with you just to address your obvious vendetta against the City or even the Chamber? Sounds like the piped piper leading the mice into the river.
Another point, since we home owners don’t pay a CITY property tax for our homes but we do jointly pay a 3.5% sales tax along with the 3.5 MILLION tourists who visit our city AND LEAVE, I see it as a pretty good deal. I really don’t see what the big deal is.
Just Sayin’
I’m a bit concerned with the numbers tossed about here. We do not have 3.5 million visitors a year. The park service keeps visitor numbers and those numbers can be found on its web page. The Grand Canyon does get those numbers but not Sedona, and all Canyon visitors do not flock to Sedona. The park service also keeps Lodging numbers and they explain why Sedona timeshares and hotels and motels are feeling the squeeze for lack of renters or overnighters. Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot visitor numbers are probably about half to a third of what we get in Sedona. Check them out. That puts us at a bit over million or slightly under 2 million during a good year and how you read the numbers. Stop using numbers that aren’t correct. It hurts our businesses causing lousy forecasting and false numbers. We’re getting two new hotels and a timeshare and how they’ll survive in our economic climate I can’t predict but it can’t bode well. I hope that they aren’t relying on bogus sales pitch. Appreciate it readers that you let me put this information and questions out there for consideration. Dick (remove last name please)
Message to Just Sayin’ — Yep, you read me and “a bushel of others” clearly (although I do not speak for them.)
As quoted by Assistant City Manager Karen Daines in the above article: “Projects without dedicated revenue streams, including most sidewalk, drainage, and public safety projects, must all compete for a finite amount of General Fund resources.”
Unless and until this city deems it essential to provide earmarked funds for the basic infrastructure needs to maintain a safe city for residents, businesses, and tourists, is it good judgment to FIRST allocate it to non-profits? And those that existed prior to incorporation functioned very nicely in spite of the inconvenience of not having city government from which to procure funding for their causes. Of course all non-profits represent useful causes, even the Chamber of Commerce when it isn’t allowed to run amok and take over city government.
If forcing 9 million dollars to sit in a holding tank for the next four years will teach our “leaders” we don’t appreciate them frittering away OUR tax dollars, which according to a recent report we resident taxpayers contribute more than 50% then so be it.
Not unlike Johnny when he misbehaves and is forced to take a “time out” or “sit in the corner” our city needs to be taught a lesson relating to the concept of appropriate prioritization.
My vote will be “NO” for HOME RULE allowing you the pleasure to cancel it by voting “YES.”
As a silent business owner and resident of VOC I applaud Dick’s comment and thank you Sir for saying what many of us know and dislike about the chamber; we are considering our own Sedona chamber instead.
Are you aware that a second jewelry store is closing its VOC doors? First one was in the IGA center and now one in the outlets? That organic vegan restaurant in the VOC Tequa (Love?) closed its doors within a couple of months because of NO BUSINESS. (We were told that there were days that no one showed up at the place to eat.) Mongo’s is feeling the pinch and how long it will last who knows. The outlets are becoming an eyesore. Without Joan here to pressure the county to keep everything nice and clean that is a big loss.
We visited Sedona in 2007 for lunch and a couple of hours walking around on our bus trip. We have lots of pictures of your pretty red hills. It is sad that the fire destroyed one of your prettiest areas. Come to Oregon and visit. We have no sales tax.
Thank you @ just Sayin’ You bring up a great point. Fundraisers will be a great way of building community. So all those will their hands out can learn how to create their own income, Brilliant!
The city did perfectly fine before they got home rule in, They went down the tube with extra cash to spend. They need to get focus do their jobs. The city has proven they do not know how to handle the money. It is worse.
As far as getting in property taxes, the registered voters have to VOTE that in. Fat chance. In fact some of the city volunteers are coming out with numbers that PROVE residents contribute MORE than you city employees and special interest groups promote. Think about it. It is NOT the tourists that create the sales tax and bed tax, it your BUSINESSES. Your residents also contribute much more than you want anyone to know.
Now back to your Blah Blah Blah the sky is falling, property tax, no services and the residence don’t matter. Just remember who owns 89A and its NOT the City.
Now if you like to impress me try using your real name, otherwise blah blah blah
I am voting NO on rule.
@fact.
You were quick to chastise Just Sayin about not using his/her real name, I’m guessing that you must have forgotten to use yours as well.
I’m a very retired and tired older resident in this city who has stood by reading the crap posted by so many people. It’s time for me to say that I agree with Just Sayin’. What a waste of energy and money if that 9 million were to just sit while I loose access to my senior center because of some jerks twisted fun.
Those of you, like @Fact aren’t the ones being effected by all of this trash talk. You all talked trash about the puppys and kittens when the humane society sent me that twisted email and it only took a week for them to come to their senses. What will happen to us Seniors when the Meals on Wheels and other services are shut down. I’m guessing that you’d rather save the kittens and pups instead of doing the same with your grandma’s and grandpops.
And, yes this IS my real name.
Nice to hear from you Mr Charles Allen.
There are many non-profits that support our aging community. They have done so before Sedona was incorporated. Many of businesses also support these groups. I do like @facts idea to go back to basics. Community Fundraisers. I love building community through volunteerism as it brings people together.
This would actually help you Mr. Charles Allen. It removes conflicts of interest from the equation. Takes all the smoke and mirrors out the presentations. It enables the community to grow in a positive manner by doing this.
Sedona has many non-profits who staff gets paid high salaries.They are really special interest groups. Those are the ones claiming they do everything and deserve all the money. I never heard one person ever say to stop Meals on Wheels or the adult center. By the special interest groups raising taxes so they can get more money it creates a burden on Sedona businesses. Then they have less to give to groups like yours Mr. Allen. You do have the support of locals and businesses.
Since our city has been routinely funding non-profits like the film festival and Chamber, who are simply serving their members, is has created a storm of other non-profits to appear and request money. Many are now being funded by the city such as main street and the arts community. They do not bring revenue to the city of Sedona.
Enough money has been gifted, it is time to let those groups get their own funding. It is time for the community of locals and businesses to work together as a team to build community without city funding.
We have a few true non-profits that are based 100% volunteerism like Sedona Community Organization. Zero funding from city. They are all sponsors and volunteers.
Your Senior center will have more not less when the city stop funding memberships, clubs and special interests. The city should review each group with the same integrity as they did the Human Society. Every penny should be audited, every person getting a benefit should be counted by the city. If they did this they would gain respect from all.